paintballs curving for no reason?

Sometimes I get really frustrated when all of a sudden my paint starts flying in all directions except the direction I aim it at. I do not know why, though. I don't chop paint, and I don't have any barrel breaks, and my barrel is spotless. The paint isn't that old either.

I use an NXT shocker with a Vlo Jr. I clean/lube my shocker after every day of play and I don't over or under lube the bolt.

Have you broken a ball in your hopper recently? Even if you haven't, it's a good idea to take your hopper apart occasionally and clean the residual paint/oils out. If at any time paint or oils from paintballs get on the balls you're shooting, they will curve. Check your feedneck for cleanliness too.

I've been called anal for keeping my entire setup so clean many times - but guess what, my guns always shoot ball on ball.

I seriously doubt this is a problem with your reg. Unless the velocity is spiking WAY over 300fps, velocity fluctuations don't cause curving. Even a bad paint to bore match doesn't cause radical curving - you'll still be on target for the most part, maybe not pinpoint, but you get what I'm saying?

No, curving paintballs are pretty much one or both of two things - bad paint, or a dirty gun. It doesn't matter if the paint is old or new - just look at it. If the paint is dimpled or out of round at all, it's not going to shoot straight. I've had 1 yr. old paint shoot ball on ball, and brand new high-end paint shoot like crap. When I buy paint, I ask to inspect the bags before I make the purchase. Yeah, I'm neurotic about my accuracy...

As Loneassassin said, paintballs usually only curve if they are dimpled, or if they have gotten dirty. If the paint is good, and it is still curving, then it is probably picking up some dirt or lube somewhere. Make sure your hopper is clean. Also, after you lube your gun, dry fire it a bit to clear out any excess lube, then clean the barrel. It may sound goofy, but any extra lube on the bolt, or in the valve, will end up in your barrel after a few shots. Once its in the barrel, it is going to end up sticking to the paintballs as they slide down the barrel. That will cause your paintballs to spin, which will make them hook like crazy. Enough gunk stuck to a paintball will make it flat out CORKSCREW when it comes out of the barrel.

Hope that helps.

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not a bad idea but this would not cause crazy curving......do your paintballs curve like no other using a 693-695 barrel? (answer is no).....so bore match will not be the prob

Correct. Paint to bore match really only effects consistancy (which affects shot to shot accuracy.) But it does not cause a ball to curve or go straight.

I've tried severe underboring and severe overboring with the same batch of paint. They all shoot straight. There's a little improvement as you get closer to the actual size of the paintballs, but not a huge difference. There is a big improvement in consistancy, however, when you underbore or overbore slightly. I've found that when I use an insert or barrel back one size smaller than the "ideal" fit, I get the best results in accuracy and consistancy, with very few or zero barrel breaks. Slight overboring allows you to shoot through breaks a little easier though - so the method you use really depends on how gentle your gun is on paint. Mine is very, very nice to paint, so I take advantage of underboring...If your gun tends to get 2-3 breaks per case, I'd overbore a little.

When I buy paint, I ask to inspect the bags before I make the purchase. Yeah, I'm neurotic about my accuracy...

You shouldn't feel like your being out of the ordinary for inspecting your paint. When you purchase something, you have an expectation that the manufacturer/distributor is obligated to meet, and that is to have round, unbroken, and clean paint. If the paint you're buying is oily and dimply, you have every right not to purchase it, and to select a different type/bag of paint.

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"You know... You know what I've noticed? Nobody panics when things go "according to plan." Even if the plan is horrifying! If, tomorrow, I tell the press that, like, a gang banger will get shot, or a truckload of soldiers will be blown up, nobody panics, because it's all "part of the plan." But when I say that one little old mayor will die, well then everyone loses their minds! Introduce a little anarchy. Upset the established order, and everything becomes chaos. I'm an agent of chaos."

See if you can find a high-speed photo sequence of the first 8-12 inches after a paintball leaves the barrel. You won't believe your eyes!
Dimples on fresh paint have very little to do with how true it flies as paintballs are elastic and elongate to almost an inch when shot. It has been
scientifically proven by UT product testing lab that there can be up as many as 4, 2mm dimples on fresh paint before the "recovery to round" is affected.

It is true that rapid recovery to "round" of an elastic/semi-rigid sphere will enhance the "true" flight path but unless a rigid projectile is forced through a rifled surface that matches the polar balance point "as not to prematurely tumble" during flight, that semi-rigid sphere will almost never follow the intended or a specifically reproducable, duplicate flight path. Excerpt from Carlos Hathcock's book in regards to Sabots.